Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-06-10

Judge symmcs dating back to 1914. The lat
ter died in Cincinnati in that year in straitcned
circumstances, having been compelled to assign
his property 10 his sOn-in-law. He had nntur-
nlly thought that the Great Miami would bring
supplies TO u town from up the country ana the
Whitewater would also contribute TO its neces-
stiles. But the natural pcrvcrsity OF human
events In this case upset all his sensible calcu-
lations and the fort whruh was the nucleus OF
his prospective city was removed TO Cincin-
natl by means OF a love affair between the COM
1nanding oflicer and lady who lived ut the lat
ter place
Notwithstanding the will OF the fates against
poor Symmcs, he exercised great good taste in
selecting this particular spot for u settlement,
The topography of the country is more varied
and beautiful than any other in Hamilton
County. His letters show that he had an eye
10 the picturesque and the charms of nature.
Spring must have been veritably season here
in those days, something more than u short
bridge over the gap between winter and sum
mer. The leaves, he wrote, were putting forth
in the last of February. In March the red-bud,
dogwoOd and hawthorn were in full bloom, and
there came TO this early opening II very great
variety OF native birds, including Hooks OF paro-
qucts in their tropical garb of green and gold.
How often this man with II Robinson Crusoe
spirit of adventure must have hshed and hunted
and climbed these hills, and from their project
ing brows been enchanted with the various
views, and felt rather hngly withal over his
wide possessions.
In winter when the forests, dcnuded of their
foliage, gave more open views than In summer,
the panorama must have been glorious. From
one spot he could see the double views OF
water formed by the graceful bend in the Ohio
and also the Great Miami and White Water
rivers, all cleaning in silver amid the darlkly-
wooded hills. Fifty enough, one such point OF
observation is In possession OF his grcat-grand-
"a. N1.a
choice OF her portion OF the paternal inner
itance, and the view from her home Is delecta-
BILE.
Symmcs was considered eccentric, and II his
eccentricity consisted only in his wild devotion
10 nature as he found 1t at North Bend he was
in reality most lcvel.headed man. His wife,
however, unfortunately for his domestic com
fort did not share his enthusiasm. This lady
in question was somewhat younger than him
self, being Mrs Symmes number three. She
was a daughter OF Governor Livingstone, OF
New York, and used to fine dress and society
in the city, and pioneer life in n cabin was not
at all to her liking She said she "had no place
10 hang her silk dresses except in Mr. Symmes'
smoke.house." The indulgent husband then
built brickhouse, which must have been suf
fcient for that purpose as well as for the hos
pitalities OF the times. This was the house
burned later by some Jealous enemy. But what
was an ample house for silks, in a country
where there were few congenial people 10 oc
cupy the one or admire the otheri
General HARRISON whose wife was the daugh
ter OF the first Mrs. Symmes, was then Governor
of the Northwest Territory with headquarters
at Vncennes His residence there was an
ample brick dwelling and his wife beautiful
md all there were OF good society, and intelli
gent travellers In those parts found their way "a
his hospitality. In his family Mrs. Symmes
found most agreeable home, and so the hus-
band and wife amlcably parted from each
other.
She doubtless said: "John is welded 10 his
lands, let him alone" In old letters 10 his
daughter, however, II is seen that he always
wrote kindly OF her, saying: "Giye my love 10
your most dear mother" She was very intel
ligent woman, and acted for n long time as
General Harrson's secretary; but at length
returned East spending the remainder OF her
days with her neice, Mrs. Sedgwicli, OF literary
notoriety. From there she wrote letter to
General Harrison's wife on her ninety.third
birthday containing apoem by herself over
the event; 'srodny I'm ninety-three."
There must have been great fascinations In
the freedom OF pioneer life that brought such q
notably intelligent class of young men and
women from the older States as settled here In
those days. And how much OF "true love- and
"hope that springs eternal In the human
breast enriched tho cabin and the clearing
"Fwaadl0' And hFloEIe." dotng on cigarettes
hna I've eIeaIei esh beYsT 6A9W pecl "FlorIo